Suddenly A Homosexual Male Snake??

[BPBeth]

Ok, I have 3 male BPs that I've had since 1998. They were all adults when I got them, but one I acquired through a friend and he was at least 5 yrs old when I got him so that puts him around 20+ yrs old. The other 2 came from pet shop as young adults. These 3 male snakes have lived together since 1998 without any breeding. There are no females period.

Last weekend, I noticed some hard thumping noises going on in their cage. They are all kept in a large boaphileplastics enclosure. This kept occurring throughout the day, so I started observing. I saw my smallest male pushing off my oldest male. Later I noticed that they were both restless (as they are usually sleeping in their hides during the day). Well this went on. The next day I observed closer. More of the same. The small snake was agitated. Yet, the old snake seemed to follow him around without rest. He nudged him, encircled him, round and round, nudging him. The small snake would shove him off (thus the thumping noise each time). Then I see my small male snake bite my old guy! Not strike at him, but turn around, open his mouth and bite down on the other snake's "torso" and chunk bite him. At this point, I realized I had to separate them because someone was going to get hurt.

I put the old snake in a portable cage I have for traveling. He calms down and goes into his hide. My smaller snake finally gets a break and slithers into his hide. He rests up for 2 days without coming out (presumably from exhaustion). Now, this small snake hasn't eaten since Jan. (I am pretty sure that this behavior just started and hasn't been going on beyond the few days I'm discussing.) This is not terribly unusual as sometimes these snakes go on a hunger strike. I feed him, and finally he eats fine. The old snake refuses to eat. I wait until the day after the little snake eats and tried reintroduction of my old snake into his usual enclosure minus the little snake. Left him there for several hours. He is restless and going around in circles all over the cage without rest. Introduce the little snake. Same behavior. I have to separate. Now through all this, my 3rd snake (also male) is oblivious and totally unaffected sleeping in his hide, coming out for water, same normal routine.

I'm thinking this little snake is emitting some kind of scent that the old snake is confusing but what ever scent it is, the other male snake is unaffected. These snakes have been together for 16 yrs and now this suddenly happens?? I'm also thinking: is it possible that my old snake ( he might be older then 20) is now getting senile? I know that homosexual behavior occurs in the animal kingdom but these snakes have lived together without this going on for 16 yrs.....Also, the little snake is definitely not being submissive or receptive so there can be confusion going on about that.

Any advise? Any insights? I realize that ultimately I may need to permanently separate them so I don't need that advise, I'm aware. But would appreciate any thoughts at this point.

[Archimedes]

Dominance display. Remove them asap. I would be worried about cannibalism if they're becoming that violent.

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[sho220]

Marriage counseling?

[Rob]

Not sure where you get the behavior being sexual. I'd defiantly separate them for good, before one of them does some real damage.


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[BPBeth]

The older snake just circles and rubs the smaller snake. Allowing the small snake to shove him off and even allowing the biting. Little snake is irritated and nervous when this snake is around. Also, how do you see the fact that the older snake is acting that way just being in the enclosure where the little snake was (after I removed him)? I don't know that it is sexual. I just saw some snake sexual vids and it looked similar. Also, these guys have been together for 16 yrs and now there's aggression? What about no aggression with the 3rd male snake?

[Kat_Dog]

BPs are solitary creatures. They don't like each other's company.

Separate them all permanently and you will have no worries.

[Marrissa]

You added a new snake. It's like when you add any other animal be it horse, rat, dog, whatever. The herd hierarchy has to be established. Honestly I think you should separate all three snakes. Keeping ball pythons together is never recommended. They are solitary creatures that only get together to breed. That encircling behavior is him trying to dominate the other one. I've got eight snakes and they all have their own tubs or enclosures. If it's a big tank you can put dividers in it to keep them separate. Tubs are also a cheaper and spacing saving option than three tanks.

[sho220]

You added a new snake. It's like when you add any other animal be it horse, rat, dog, whatever. The herd hierarchy has to be established. Honestly I think you should separate all three snakes. Keeping ball pythons together is never recommended. They are solitary creatures that only get together to breed. That encircling behavior is him trying to dominate the other one. I've got eight snakes and they all have their own tubs or enclosures. If it's a big tank you can put dividers in it to keep them separate. Tubs are also a cheaper and spacing saving option than three tanks.

From the OP's original post..."These 3 male snakes have lived together since 1998 without any breeding."

I still agree with you that they should be separated though...

[Marrissa]

Ah someone read the acquired from friend line as he just added the third. I need to go to sleep.

Edit: somehow not someone* Ok I'm going to bed.

[sho220]

Ah someone read the acquired from friend line as he just added the third. I need to go to sleep.

Me too...